Dutch Populist Party wishes Parliamentary intervention in BREIN vs XS4ALL/Ziggo ruling

Last week, a Dutch Judge ordered two ISPs (XS4ALL and Ziggo) to block access to the torrent site The Pirate Bay. Now, the Dutch Populist Party (PVV) wants the Parliament to take action against this ruling. Therefore, some Populist Party members asked parliamentary questions to the Dutch Secretary of State Teeven of Security and Justice.

According to the Populist Party, the ruling to block access to The Pirate Bay is internet censorship and in violation of the right to have internet access. The party askes if Teeven shares their opinion that blocking websites is at the expense of the freedom of citizens and this is also the case when copyright protected works are downloaded through these sites.

Also, Teeven is asked if he shares the Populist Party’s opinion that blocking The Pirate Bay can be seen as internet censorship and a violation of the right to have access to the internet. In addition, the Populist Party wishes to know which steps Teeven will take to prevent that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the future could be forced to block websites. Moreover, members asked Teeven if the Parliament is willing to take measures to prevent illegal file sharing without blocking website. For example, the Populist Party mentions measures to promote and expand the use of legal content on the internet.

Both ISPs announced to appeal the ruling. Therefore, the Populist Party asked Teeven if he is willing to compensate the ISPs when they win the appeal and are harmed by the court’s decision as a result of denounced subscriptions.

State Secretary Teeven did not respond  to the questions just yet. We will inform you when the answers are published.

The parliamentary questions can be read here (in Dutch).

References: Nu.nl, Boek 9.

By: Karen Groen